U.S. patent number 7,091,879 [Application Number 10/066,549] was granted by the patent office on 2006-08-15 for system and method for using multiple medical monitors.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Invivo Corporation. Invention is credited to Roy Seizo Carr, Celso Ochoa Decastro, Jr., Gary Bruce Edstrom, Richard Brian Paul, Donald Edward Swetlik, Robert Edward Whitten, Gary Michael Zednik.
United States Patent |
7,091,879 |
Swetlik , et al. |
August 15, 2006 |
System and method for using multiple medical monitors
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and method for
simultaneously using and configuring one or more disposable
transmitters. The system includes at least one single or multiple
use disposable transmitter, a central station, and a receiver
module. The transmitter is connected to a patient to gather and
measure biomedical information. The transmitter transmits the
biomedical information through the receiver module to the central
station for processing, storage and display. Prior to use, each
transmitter must be configured to work with the central station and
the receiver module. This allows the users to configure the
disposable transmitters relatively quickly and easily without
needing advanced technical information. The inventive configuration
also enables the operator to map a location on a monitor in the
central station to a specific disposable transmitter and ultimately
to a specific patient or location in the coverage area that is
covered by the system.
Inventors: |
Swetlik; Donald Edward
(Temecula, CA), Whitten; Robert Edward (Tujunga, CA),
Paul; Richard Brian (Diamond Bar, CA), Edstrom; Gary
Bruce (Glendale, CA), Zednik; Gary Michael (Agua Dulce,
CA), Decastro, Jr.; Celso Ochoa (Northridge, CA), Carr;
Roy Seizo (Chatsworth, CA) |
Assignee: |
Invivo Corporation (Orlando,
FL)
|
Family
ID: |
27658686 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/066,549 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2002 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20030146847 A1 |
Aug 7, 2003 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/870.16;
128/903; 600/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
5/0002 (20130101); H04M 11/002 (20130101); A61B
2560/0271 (20130101); A61B 2560/0276 (20130101); Y10S
128/903 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
21/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;340/870.16 ;128/903
;600/300,382 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Edwards, Jr.; Timothy
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Boyle Fredrickson Newholm Stein
& Gratz S.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A configuration system for use with a plurality of patient
monitors communicating with a central station, each patient monitor
transmitting data from a given patient to the central station to be
displayed on a display, the configuration system comprising a
program that when executed by a computer causes the computer to:
detect a presence of a patient monitor that is unconfigured;
display a prompt to a user indicating the presence of the
unconfigured patient monitor; accept from the user, a command
linking data of the patient monitor to a portion of the display;
and configure the patient monitor and central station to
automatically display the data in the portion of the display.
2. The configuration system of claim 1 wherein the computer is
further caused to prompt the user to mark the patient monitor with
a patient identifier prior to associating the patient monitor with
a patient.
3. The configuration system of claim 2 wherein the patient monitor
includes a manually applied label identifying a patient, and the
computer is further caused to prompt the user to indicate the
patient with which the patient monitor will be associated prior to
associating the patient monitor with a patient.
4. The configuration system of claim 1 wherein the computer is
further caused to automatically program the patient monitor to
transmit the data on a channel corresponding to the portion of the
display indicated by the user command.
5. The configuration system of claim 1 wherein the computer is
further caused to automatically store and display a serial number
of the patient monitor in the portion of the display indicated by
the user command.
6. The configuration system of claim 1 wherein the computer is
further caused to automatically program the patient monitor to
transmit packets of monitoring information along with an identifier
corresponding to the portion of the display indicated by the user
command.
7. The configuration system of claim 1 wherein the computer is
further caused to display a prompt on the display to enter patient
identifier data at least indicating a patient from which the data
will be gathered.
8. The configuration system of claim 1 wherein the display includes
a plurality of tiles apportioning the display and wherein the user
command is at least partially communicated by touching a tile to
command linking data of the patient monitor to the portion of the
display corresponding to the tile.
9. The configuration system of claim 8 wherein each tile is
configured to display monitoring information from one of a
plurality of patient monitors.
10. The configuration system of claim 1 wherein the patient monitor
is configured to be disposable.
11. The configuration system of claim 1 wherein the computer is
further caused to detect radio transmissions from the unconfigured
patient monitor to detect the presence of the patient monitor that
is unconfigured.
12. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a
computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a
computer, causes the computer to: detect a patient monitor that is
not configured to communicate with a central station; display a
prompt on a display requesting user-desired display parameters for
displaying information received from the patient monitor at the
central station; automatically configure the patient monitor
according to user-desired display parameters; and prompt the user
to mark the patient monitor with a patient identifier prior to
associating the patient monitor with a patient.
13. The computer program of claim 12 wherein the user-desired
display parameters include a portion of the display within which to
display information received from the patient monitor at the
central station.
14. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the computer is
further caused to automatically program the patient monitor to
transmit information at frequency corresponding to the portion of
the display indicated by the user-desired display parameters.
15. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the computer is
further caused to automatically store and display a serial number
of the patient monitor in the portion of the display indicated by
the user-desired display parameters.
16. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the computer is
further caused to automatically program the patient monitor to
transmit information to the central station in packets with an
identifier corresponding to at least one of the portion of the
display indicated by the user-desired display parameters and an
identity of the patient monitor.
17. The computer program of claim 12 wherein the mark includes a
manually applied label identifying a patient to which the patient
monitor will be associated after being configured to communicate
with the central station.
18. The computer program of claim 12 wherein the patient monitor is
disposable.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to medical monitoring systems, and more
particularly to telemetry systems with disposable and/or reusable
transmitters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to effectively monitor very ill patients, they often are
connected to monitoring systems, such as telemetry systems. These
systems generally include a number of monitors, such as ECG devices
and reusable transmitters, for obtaining and measuring biomedical
information from connected patients. Note that while different
types of monitors are used in telemetry systems, typical systems
using transmitters use reusable transmitters. Most reusable
transmitters require replaceable and standardized batteries and
electrodes to properly obtain and measure information from
connected patients. Upon obtaining information from a connected
patient, each reusable transmitter transmits the information to a
central station, which receives information from multiple monitors
and processes, displays and stores the received information. In
current telemetry systems, there is a considerable safety issue in
associating information in the central station with the appropriate
transmitter and ultimately the appropriate patient.
Reusable transmitters are relatively expensive items that must be
tracked and managed over long periods of time. Currently, not all
batteries or electrodes work with all reusable transmitters.
Therefore, batteries and electrodes used in these transmitters also
must be managed, tracked and replenished. Moreover, transmitters
are usually subjected to very extreme conditions and failure is not
uncommon. Hence, considerable time is spent troubleshooting
problems in telemetry systems. Additionally, clinical environments
are busy and fast paced. Therefore, relatively expensive reusable
transmitters are easily lost, removed from the premises, and/or
discarded.
In order to obtain required information from patients, transmitters
are usually worn for extended periods of time. This often causes
the transmitters to become soiled by various bodily fluids. Thus,
the transmitters must be cleaned between patients' uses and at
other times when they are soiled. However, due to the complex
mechanical construction of reusable transmitters, cleaning is
generally labor intensive and unpleasant and may not be thoroughly
performed.
Reusable transmitters are generally bulky which make them
uncomfortable for patients to wear for extended periods of time,
especially while sleeping. However, due to the expense associated
with most reusable transmitters, there is a minimum size
requirement to prevent loss. For example, most manufacturers
require that the sizes of their reusable transmitters be such that
they can not be flushed down a toilet.
To solve the above mentioned problems, a current telemetry system
uses a single disposable transmitter, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
5,718,234. However, the disposable transmitter, described therein,
can only transmit information to a device, such as a central
station, which accepts one transmission at a time. Thus, there can
be no other active transmitters in the area where the disposable
transmitter is being used. Most telemetry applications require
using multiple transmitters on many different patients at the same
time. Thus, to be logistically practical, preferably multiple
disposable telemetry transmitters are used simultaneously and/or
with reusable transmitters and information transmitted from each
disposable transmitter must be properly associated with the
transmitter and the connected patient.
Therefore, in telemetry systems where there are multiple
transmitters, an efficient system must be created for configuring
different types of transmitters and for associating the correct
data with each transmitter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and method for
simultaneously using and configuring one or more disposable and/or
non-disposable transmitters. In one embodiment, the system includes
at least one single use disposable transmitter, a central station,
and a receiver module. The transmitter is connected to a patient to
gather and measure biomedical information. The transmitter
transmits the biomedical information through the receiver module to
the central station for processing, storing and displaying. Prior
to use, each transmitter must be configured to work with the
central station and the receiver module. This allows the users to
configure the disposable transmitters relatively quickly and easily
without needing advanced technical experience or information. The
system configuration also enables the operator to map a location on
a monitor in the central station to a specific disposable
transmitter and ultimately to a specific patient or location in the
coverage area that is covered by the system.
Specifically, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
system includes several channels, preferably wireless channels, for
transmitting data between the transmitter and the receiver module.
Each wireless channel is configured for use by one transmitter and
receiver module and mapped to the central station. Each disposable
transmitter includes one or more processing units for processing
biomedical data gathered from a patient. In a preferred embodiment,
after processing the biomedical data, the transmitter sends the
data to the receiver module via a wireless channel. The receiver
module includes components that format the data for further
transmission to the central station.
The central station includes a display and a processing base for
processing and storing incoming data. The processing base operates
the display, and includes a transmitter programming interface for
programming and configuring transmitters and an output component
for displaying information and for generating print outs of
biomedical data. The display screen is divided into multiple
patient tiles and/or regions for displaying information, controls,
and instructions. Each patient tile is on a predetermined portion
of the screen, e.g. a rectangular portion; and each tile includes
several regions for displaying patient information.
According to the invention in a wireless environment, during
configuration of a disposable transmitter, each tile associated
with the disposable transmitter is associated with a specific radio
frequency. The radio frequency represents the channel into which
the receiver associated with the tile is tuned. Once a tile is
associated with a transmitter, the location of the tile is
generally static on the display. This enables the operator of the
system to associate a tile with a transmitter and ultimately a
patient and/or location in the coverage area.
The software for operating the central station includes multiple
Virtual Patient Objects (VPO). Each patient's tile is mapped to one
VPO and each VPO also is mapped to one receiver object. Each
receiver object maintains control of one receiver and the receiver
object retains information necessary to configure the receiver to a
fixed wireless channel. During operation, biomedical information
flows from the transmitter through the receiver and the receiver
object into memory in the central monitor station. Thereafter, the
information is transmitted to the VPO for display in an associated
patient tile. The VPO associated with each tile maintains knowledge
of whether or not a patient is admitted to the tile.
Prior to using the system, the operator must configure each
disposable transmitter to work with the central station. During
configuration, the operator connects a programming port of a new
transmitter into the transmitter programming interface of the
central station. The programmer object software in the central
station detects the presence of the new transmitter and notifies a
command processor. The command processor instructs the operator to
select a patient tile that is to be associated with the new
transmitter. If a patient is already associated with the tile, the
system instructs the operator to use a new tile, deactivate the
transmitter associated with the tile and/or discharge the patient
that is currently associated with the tile. If there is no patient
associated with the tile, the system determines if an active
transmitter is assigned to the wireless channel that is used by the
tile. If an active transmitter is detected, the system instructs
the operator to deactivate the active transmitter. Thereafter, the
system programs the transmitter with the frequency associated with
the tile and the transmitter's serial number is stored in the tile.
The transmitter's serial number is also included in transmitted
data packets from the transmitter. The associated tile uses the
serial number to identify and only display data from the
appropriate transmitter. In one embodiment, the user is then
instructed to enter identifying patient data into the display
screen and to write the patient's name on the associated
transmitter.
According to the invention, each transmitter is marked with
disposal instructions in order to deactivate and dispose of the
transmitter after use. Alternatively, each transmitter may
deactivate and disable itself after being disconnected from the
patient for a predetermined amount of time.
In another embodiment of the invention, the system may include one
or more remote programming stations that may be included in several
locations in a coverage area or in remote locations. The remote
programming station may duplicate the central station's display,
showing the same data and allowing the same interactions as the
central station's display or it may be programmed in other ways to
display and receive other information.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set
forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. Certain objectives and advantages of the invention will
be realized and attained by the system particularly pointed out in
the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended
drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the
purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the
present invention provides a computer driven system for processing
biomedical data from at least one patient, including: one or more
disposable transmitters that are each connected to one patient to
obtain biomedical data from the patient. Each disposable
transmitter includes a connection for obtaining biomedical data
from a patient, one or more processing components for processing
biomedical data from the patient, and one or more transmitters for
transmitting the biomedical data; one or more receiving components
for receiving biomedical data from the disposable transmitters; and
a central station for processing, storing and displaying the
biomedical data. The central station includes a configuration
component for configuring each disposable transmitter prior to use
and for associating biomedical data from each disposable
transmitter with a specific region on a display in the central
station.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention that together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 illustrates a medical system used in the invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a disposable
transmitter that is used in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a central station and
a receiver module used in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the central station's
display format;
FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the software that is
used to operate the central station;
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram which describes how to connect
the first patient to the inventive system;
FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram which describes how to connect
additional transmitters to the inventive system; and
FIG. 8 illustrates a medical telemetry system with a plurality of
remote central stations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments
of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. In one embodiment, the present invention
extends the functionality of the inventive system and method for
configuring and using multiple disposable transmitters in a
telemetry system.
FIG. 1 illustrates a medical system 100 that comprises multiple
transmitters (10A 10E), central stations (40A 40B), and receiver
modules (60A 60C). As would be obvious to one skilled in the art,
other monitors for gathering biomedical information, such as ECG
devices, may be used in place of or with transmitters (10A 10E).
Each transmitter (10A 10E) is connected to a patient to obtain and
measure biomedical information from the patient. The obtained
information is later transmitted to one or more central stations
(40A 40B) for processing, storage, and display. In a preferred
embodiment, the display on one central station may be replicated on
other central stations for redundancy.
According to the inventive system, transmitters (10A 10E) may be
single use disposable transmitters and/or reusable transmitters and
may operate in a hard wired or wireless environment. In a preferred
embodiment of the system, transmitters (10A 10E) are wireless,
disposable transmitters. Each disposable transmitter may be
included in a kit with the appropriate wiring, batteries,
electrodes, patient preparation supplies, such as alcohol and
wipes, and instructions for setting up and using the disposable
transmitters for easier management and maintenance.
In prior systems, reusable transmitters are configured by trained
technical professionals. According to the inventive system,
disposable transmitters may be configured in an automated and
intuitive manner by clinical professionals who have little
technical training. Thus, in the present invention, prior to using
each disposable transmitter (10A 10E), the transmitter must be
configured to work with one or more central stations (40A 40B) and
one receiver module (60A 60C). In a preferred embodiment of the
invention, central stations (40A 40B) may include one or more
programming stations for configuring disposable transmitters (10A
10E). Alternatively, the programming stations may be separate from
central stations (40A 40B). The programming stations allow the
users of disposable transmitters (10A 10E) to configure them
relatively quickly and easily without needing advanced technical
information, such as available radio channels. In a preferred
embodiment, each transmitter (10A 10E) is configured in its package
at a central station (40A 40B) and taken to the patient's location
for use on the patient. This procedure ensures easier management
and maintenance of disposable transmitters (10A 10E).
After configuration, each transmitter (10A 10E) is connected to a
patient to gather biomedical information from the patient.
Information obtained by each transmitter (10A 10E) is delivered
over a radio channel to one of several receiver modules (60A 60C).
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, radio channels (80A
80E) are wireless channels. The information is then relayed over a
wired system backbone (95) from the receiver modules (60A 60C) to
the appropriate central station (40A 40B). In one embodiment, each
receiver module (60A 60C) may be located in the same computer as a
central station (40A 40B).
In order for the system to function properly, prior system
configuration must be performed such that each disposable
transmitter (10A 10E) is correctly programmed to transmit
information via a dedicated wireless channel (80A 80E). According
to the invention, each wireless channel (80A 80E) is configured to
and used by one transmitter (10A 10E). The receiver module (60A
60C) that receives information from a transmitter also must be
configured to the same wireless channel (80A 80E) as the
transmitter, and the receiver module must be mapped to the
appropriate central station (40A 40B), such that each patient's
data is sent not only to the correct central station, but also to
the correct area on the central station's monitor.
FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of disposable transmitter
(10A 10E) that is used in FIG. 1. In each disposable transmitter
(10A 10E), biomedical data is gathered from the patient through a
connection 210 that is in contact with the patient and the data is
processed by a processing circuitry 220. The data is digitized and
further processed by a microprocessor 230. Thereafter, the data is
transmitted to a receiver module (60A 60C) via a frequency
synthesized transmitter 240 and an antenna 250. In one embodiment,
disposable transmitter (10A 10C) operates on a power supply, such
as battery 260, and may be programmed or configured via a
programming port 270. As may be obvious to one skilled in the art,
other powering devices, such as electricity may be used in place of
a battery.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes an ECG
monitor, such as that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/776,324, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
According to the present invention, each transmitter (10A 10E) is
marked with disposal instructions describing how to deactivate,
recycle and/or dispose of the transmitter after use. Alternatively,
each transmitter (10A 10E) may deactivate and disable itself after
being disconnected from the patient for a predetermined period of
time. After deactivation, electronics in the disposable
transmitters (10A 10E) may be recycled. In a preferred embodiment,
a stamped envelop that is pre-addressed with the address of a
recycling facility is included with each new set of transmitters
(10A 10E) for returning the transmitters for recycling after use.
Upon receiving used transmitter (10A 10E), the sender is
automatically credited and the circuit board is removed from used
transmitter (10A 10E), cleaned and inserted into a new disposable
transmitter. Recycled transmitters (10A 10E) are then shipped again
and include a pre-addressed stamped envelope for recycling.
FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of central station (40A
40B) and receiver module (60A 60C). In a preferred embodiment, each
central station (40A 40B) includes a processing base 310 and a
display 320 having a touch screen. Processing base 310 processes
and stores incoming data and operates display 320. In one
embodiment, display 320 is in close proximity to transmitter (10A
10E) during system configuration. Processing base 310 also
communicates with a transmitter programming interface 330 for
programming and configuring transmitters (10A 10E), and an output
device 340, such as a strip chart recorder, for generating print
outs of biomedical data. According to the present invention, an
operator may use a remote transmitter programming interface 330 to
remotely program transmitter (10A 10E) and assign an associated
patient to a location on the display. Processing base 310 also
connects central station (40A 40B) to receiver modules (60A 60C)
via wired system backbone 95.
Each receiver module (60A 60C) includes several wireless receiver
boards 350 which are connected to an interface board 360 via an
internal back-plane 370 which connects interface board 360 and
receiver boards 350. After receiving data from transmitters,
interface board 360 formats the data for further transmission to a
central station (40A 40B). Each receiver board 350 includes one or
more frequency synthesized receivers 380 which may be used to tune
in data from a specific transmitter (10A 10E). When a transmitter
is configured, an associated receiver board 350 also must be
configured to tune the receiver module (60A 60C) to the correct
frequency on the wireless channel that is associated with the
transmitter. Thereafter, interface board 360 and processing base
310 must be configured to transmit data to the correct location on
the display 320 and to the patient associated with that
location.
FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the central station
display 320 format. Display screen 320 in central station (40A 40B)
is divided into multiple patient tiles 450. Each patient tile 450
displays data transmitted from one patient and each tile may
comprise several regions 410 430 that display patient information,
such as identifying information, numerical biomedical data, and
waveform biomedical data. According to the invention, each tile 450
is associated with a disposable transmitter (10A 10E) and also is
associated with a specific radio frequency. The radio frequency
represents a channel into which the receiver associated with the
tile is tuned. Each time the system is started, each patient's tile
450 appears in the location it was during its previous operating
period. During normal operations, the location and size of tile 450
is largely static and pre-determined. This enables the operator of
the system to map a location on the display with a specific
transmitter and ultimately a specific patient. In situations where
a transmitter is associated with a specific location, the location
may also be mapped to a specific tile through the associated
transmitter. In other embodiments of the invention, it is possible
for an operator of the display to resize and/or move tile 450 on
display screen 320. As is obvious to one skilled in the art, the
location and size of tile 450 are determined by the user of the
system.
Display screen 320 also includes controls and instructions regions,
such as a soft-key area 440 and a message area 445. Soft-key area
440 displays control keys that are used by the operator to control
various features of central station (40A 40B). Message area 447
instructs and alerts users of the telemetry system to various
system conditions. Display screen 320 may additionally employ one
or more pop-up control boxes 447 to inform the operator of various
conditions and instructions and to gather information from the
operator.
FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the software that is
used to operate central station (40A 40B). The software includes
multiple Virtual Patient Objects (VPO) 510, whereby each patient's
tile 450 is mapped to one VPO 510. Each VPO 510 also is mapped to
one receiver object 520. In one embodiment of the invention, each
VPO may be mapped directly and permanently to one tile 450 and to
one receiver object 520. Each receiver object 520 maintains control
of one receiver module (60A 60C) and receiver object 520 retains
all information necessary to configure receiver module (60A 60C) to
a fixed wireless channel (80A 80E). During normal operations,
biomedical information from disposable transmitter (10A 10E) flows
through receiver module (60A 60C) and receiver object 520 into
memory in central station (40A 40B). Thereafter, the information is
transmitted to VPO 510 for display in an associated patient tile
450.
According to the invention, each patient connected to a transmitter
(10A 10E) is typically admitted to an active patient tile 450 in
order to correctly associate the patient's identifying information
with the biomedical information on the tile. A patient is admitted
to tile 450 when the operator enters identifying patient
information in tile 450. In some cases, however, a patient
connected to a transmitter (10A 10E) may not be admitted to a
patient tile 450. Nevertheless, VPO 510 associated with each tile
450 maintains knowledge of whether or not a patient is admitted to
the tile. If a patient is admitted to the tile, VPO 510 retains the
patient's identifying information.
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram that describes how to connect the
first patient to the system according to the present invention. In
Step 610, the operator connects programming port 270 of a new
disposable transmitter 10A into transmitter programming interface
330 of a central station (40A 40B). At Step 620, the programmer
object software in central station (40A 40B) detects the presence
of new transmitter 10A and notifies command processor base 310. At
Step 630, command processor base 310 uses the message area of
central station's display 320 to instruct the operator to select
patient tile 410A that is to be associated with new disposable
transmitter 10A. In a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the operator selects patient tile 410A by touching a
tile on display screen 320. Other methods, such as a mouse and/or a
keyboard, may be used by the operator to select patient tile 410A.
At Step 640, the system programs transmitter 10A and receiver
module 60A with the frequency associated with tile 410A and the
transmitter's serial number is stored in tile 410A. The
transmitter's serial number is also included in transmitted data
packets from transmitter 10A. Associated tile 410A uses the serial
number to identify and only display data from transmitter 10A. At
Step 650, other information, such as the software version of
transmitter 10A, is also read out of transmitter 10A during
configuration. At Step 660, the user is instructed to enter
identifying patient data into display screen 320 and to write the
patient's name on transmitter 10A. At Step 670, transmitter 10A is
connected to the patient to obtain biomedical data from the
patient.
FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram that describes how to connect or
disconnect one or more transmitters to the inventive system. At
Step 710, the operator connects programming port 270 of new
disposable transmitter 10B into transmitter programming interface
330 of central station 40. The programmer object software in
central station (40A 40B) detects the presence of new transmitter
10B and notifies command processor base 310. Command processor base
310 reads transmitter 10B serial number and uses the message area
of central station display 320 to instruct the operator to select
patient tile 410B that is to be associated with new disposable
transmitter 10B. In Step 720, the operator selects VPO 510, to be
associated with transmitter 10B and patient tile 410B, by touching
patient tile 410B.
In Step 730, once a selection has been made, VPO 510 is inspected
to determine if there is a patient that is currently admitted to
and/or associated with tile 410B. In Step 740, if there is already
a patient admitted to tile 410B, the operator is asked if an
exhausted transmitter is being replaced. In Step 750, if an
exhausted transmitter is not being replaced, the system instructs
the operator to first discharge the patient that is currently
admitted to tile 410B. In Step 760, the operator is instructed to
admit a new patient to tile 410B. In Step 770, if an exhausted
transmitter is being replaced, the system determines if a
transmitter is active on the channel assigned to associated
receiver object 520. In Step 780, if there is an active transmitter
on the channel, the system assumes that the operator is replacing
the transmitter associated with tile 410B for a valid reason. The
system then instructs the operator to remove the old transmitter
before activating new transmitter 10B.
In Step 790, if there is no patient admitted to and/or associated
with tile 410B, the system determines if a transmitter is active on
the channel assigned to associated receiver object 520. In Step
7010, if there is an active transmitter on the channel, the system
instructs the operator to remove the old transmitter before
activating new transmitter 10B. In Step 7020, if there is no active
transmitter on the channel, the system instructs the operator to
admit the patient.
In Step 7030, transmitter 10B is programmed to the radio frequency
of receiver object 520. In Step 7040, the serial number of
transmitter 10B is read from its microprocessor 230 and programmed
into the receiver object 520. At Step 7050, the operator is
instructed to identify the patient on transmitter 10B, for example,
to manually label (using for example, permanent marker and surgical
tape) or electronically write (using the programming station) a
patient's name and/or identification number on transmitter 10B.
FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a telemetry system with one or
more remote programming stations (810A 810C). Remote programming
stations 810 may be included in several locations in the coverage
area. For example, a coverage area may be a hospital with many
floors. Central station (40A 40B) may be located on one floor and
remote programming stations (810A 810C) may be located on other
floors. In another example, the coverage area also may include
locations that are different from the location where central
station (40A 40B) is located. Therefore, remote programming
stations (810A 810C) may be located in locations that are different
from the location where central station (40A 40B) is located.
Remote programming station (810A 810C) may be a mirror of central
station's display 320, showing the same data and allowing the same
interactions. Alternatively, the display associated with remote
programming station (810A 810C) may show only data entered on that
station. As would be obvious, remote stations could be programmed
in various ways to display various information as required to meet
a particular use of the system.
The foregoing description has been directed to specific embodiments
of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that other
variations and modifications may be made to the described
embodiments, with the attainment of some or all of their
advantages. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to
cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true
spirit and scope of the invention.
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